Sunday, August 20, 2006

Defending Polygamy

Polygamy is banned in the Utah Constitution and is a felony offense. The rally was unusual because those who practice polygamy typically try to live under the radar.

It drew about 250 supporters to City Hall, said Mary Batchelor, co-founder of Principle Voices of Polygamy, which helped organize the event.

The youths, ages 10 to 20, belong to various religious sects, as well as families that practice polygamy independent of religious affiliation. They said they spoke voluntarily. They gave only their first names, saying they were protecting the privacy of their parents.[...]All of the speakers praised their parents and families and said their lives were absent of the abuse, neglect, forced marriages and other "horror stories" sometimes associated with polygamist communities.

Speakers said that with "dozens of siblings" and multiple "moms" they are well supported, encouraged to be educated, and can make their own choices about marriage.

"We are not brainwashed, mistreated, neglected, malnourished, illiterate, defective or dysfunctional," 17-year-old Jessica said. "My brothers and sisters are freethinking, independent people; some who have chosen this lifestyle, while others have branched out to a diversity of religions."

Three years ago I wrote in defense of polygamy. Because some of my own beliefs and values have changed since then, I would write a different piece today. But the fundamental point remains.

If one rich guy attracts all the women, leaving other men spouse-less, whose fault is that? If a woman prefers life in a harem than having one man of more modest means all to herself, that should be her choice. Polygamy - the possibility of one man getting all the women - would provide an incentive for men to improve themselves - such as in income, character, or looks - in order to attract women. Women wouldn't have to "compete" with other women for good men, or lure successful men away from their families, or end up with losers because "anybody is better than nobody."

I believe it would be better for society if men had to compete for women, instead of women having to compete with men as they do in our majority-female society. Legalized polygamy would make this happen.